Interview: Michelle Young's Fantasy World
As I am sure all of you read my reviews of Dragonstone and The Dragon's Heart in a previous posting, you are by now familiar with up-and-coming author Michelle Young. This weekend, Michelle is hoping to take DragonCon by storm as she introduces new readers to her world: the magical world of Latharia. I had the chance to interview Ms. Young about her books, her beginnings, her inspirations and her plans for the future. Celebrity Extra: Had you always known that you wanted to be a writer, or did you develop this love later in life?
Michelle Young: I’ve always loved writing, but I never thought I would be a writer professionally. At one time I was going to go to school to become an English Literature Teacher, because I love reading the classics; I love creative writing, but I never thought I would do it professionally. And then it just kind of happened.
CE: How did the whole thing happen?
MY: The best way to say it — and it sounds really weird — but I had this story in my head, and it got to the point that I was compelled to write it. And I sat down at my computer — because my kids were younger, so they would go to bed and my husband would play his video games — and this is my relaxation at the end of the day. I would sit and write it. And I kind of thought it would be a romance. And I was just embarrassed. I was embarrassed of the subject; I was embarrassed to think: “I think I could write a book?!?” So I didn’t even tell my husband. We were married almost 18 years and I tell him everything, but I didn’t even tell him.
And after a month of me writing it, he came up behind me and I slammed down my laptop. And he said: “What are you writing? Who are you writing to?” So I had to confess to my husband, who was amazingly supportive. And the more I wrote — it got to the point that I was sitting at my computer eight to 10 hours a day, just writing. I only worked part time, so my days off I would do that. My husband would take the kids camping for the weekend so I could just write. And after spending thousands of hours writing it, I thought, “I wonder what it would take to get this published?”
I stumbled onto the Central Florida Romance Writers Association and went there a few times. I learned a lot but got intimidated by all of these other authors. There’s about 50 members and about a quarter of them are published, and some of them are big published. And I’d gotten to the point where I thought, “I am not that good, and I am never going to get published.” I’m going to go to one more meeting and see what happens. And I went to that one more meeting and it just so happens Rhonda Penders — the owner of the Wild Rose Press in New York — was here on vacation. So the president had invited her to come speak to our little romance writers group. She took pitches after the meeting. So I talked to her, I pitched, and she said: "It sounds really good. Submit it." So, I did and I got accepted.
CE: Were you nervous about the whole pitch?
MY: Oh, yes. And the whole point of the Wild Rose Press is that they’re a gentler publishing company. So, when I talked to her, it probably was not the kind of pitch you’d want to give to Harlequin. I probably sounded like a babbling idiot, but she got it. She was like, “It’s okay, just relax; tell me, what your story is about?” So I got through it. I don’t know if the universe just aligned and everything just fell into place. I just can’t explain it. I felt like I was meant to do this.
CE: When did the first idea of “Dragonstone” come to you? How did it develop for you in your head?
MY: I had little scenes in my head. And have had those little scenes in my head for years. And then it just got to the point of this scene is starting to flow into this scene, and it was kind of just developing. And I was kind of like, “How is this all going to … I don’t know.” It just flowed. I did not have the entire story in my head from beginning to end. I just sat down and started writing it, and I’d get to a point and be like, “I don’t know where it’s going to go next.” And I would just put it aside or I would go to bed, and it would just come to me. You’d be surprised by how many things are in there now that were not in there at the very beginning.
CE: Did you know how it was going to begin and end, and you just needed the middle? Or it all just developed at one time?
MY: I knew the ultimate ending. And I knew, kind of like the basic flow. But a lot of the twists kind of came in later. “Ooo, he’s going to do this and they’re going to be related this way … Ooh, that’s good.” (Laughter)
CE: How long did it take you — from conception through fruition?
MY: “Dragonstone” only took me about six months to write. And a lot of it was the eight to 10 hours a day sitting in there writing. But “The Dragon's Heart” took me almost a year and a half.
CE: Now when you are developing characters, do you put in the personality of people that you know? Or do you try to keep people out of it?
MY: My sister will tell you that Kat is modeled after her. My husband will tell you that he’s Logan. (Laughter) But no, it’s not. They’re just personalities that just developed in my head. They’re not based on anybody I know.
CE: Is there anything about Kat that you’ve drawn from yourself?
MY: She’s probably completely not me. I am actually more like Serena in “The Dragon's Heart.” I am not athletic, not coordinated, not confident. So no, she’s probably the complete opposite of me. (Laughter)
CE: When you get feedback from fans who have read the books, what are some things they've been telling you?
MY: I think for me the neatest thing is when I get the people who say: “Gee this is not normally the kind of book I read. But, wow! I loved it because it wasn’t what I expected.” Or the people who say, “I’m exhausted today and it’s your fault, because I had to finish reading it. I couldn’t go to bed until 1:30, and I had to get up at 6:00.” Or you get somebody in New Zealand who said, “I went to the bookstore today and ordered your book.” Those things are really cool.
CE: How are you getting the word out about your books, because you are with a small press?
MY: Really, a lot of it is word of mouth. I hope people who read the book like it enough to tell their friends, “Hey, this is a really good book. You should read it.” I do have a website. I go to the Southern Women’s Show and I do try to go to different conferences. Through my local romance writers group, we do a once-a-year Booksellers Tea that you invite people to who own small bookstores, librarians, that kind of thing, and you try to get them to buy your book. I’ve been to Author's Day at libraries. So different things like that. I try to make as many appearances as possible.
Q and A: Week of Aug. 29
A: Aside from having a baby on the way, the biggest professional news to come from the Mike Myers camp is that Mike is set to break out his Austin Powers character for a fourth film. There’s no word about what the plot will center on, but you can bet he’ll have a sexy and smart new sidekick to follow in the wake of Elizabeth Hurley, Heather Graham and Beyonce. I’d like to see Emma Stone give Austin a run for his money. Yeah, baby!
Q: Do you know what the status is on a new “Bridget Jones” movie? Every so often I hear rumors that one is in the works, but then nothing ever happens. Would Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth even be interested in returning to the franchise? — Pauline F., Akron, Ohio
A: Since 2009, Working Title Films (which produced the first two movies) has been thinking about a sequel, and hints of that have been reaching our ears. Renee Zellweger had always said there couldn’t be another movie without another book. Well, the series’ author, Helen Fielding, announced earlier this year that she is hard at work on the third “Bridget Jones” book. Helen has confirmed: “I will be working on both the book and the film, but I don’t know if they are the same thing yet. It’s not been decided.”
And Academy Award-winner Colin Firth, who plays Mark Darcy in the series, told the BBC this summer, “I think the idea of Mark and Daniel (played by Hugh Grant) and Bridget in advanced stages of deterioration could be quite fun. We’re making a comedy, after all.” The wheels are indeed in motion for a third “Bridget” movie.
Q: I have a question about a show that featured a married couple with eight children, but they split up. Did the mom get her own show? — Ken J., The Villages, Fla.
A: The mom in question, Kate Gosselin, did get her own show: What was “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ became “Kate Plus 8.” However, TLC announced the final show will air on Sept. 12, with this statement: “TLC has decided not to renew another season of ‘Kate Plus 8.’ By the end of this season, ‘Kate Plus 8′ will have hit the 150-episode mark (including ‘Jon and Kate Plus 8′), an exceptional milestone. TLC hopes to check in with Kate and the family periodically with specials in the future.”
Q: I heard that the actor John Dye, who played Andrew on “Touched By An Angel,” passed away. Is that true? He was so young! – Ruth S., Chillicothe, Ohio
A: John Dye passed away on Jan. 10, just shy of his 48th birthday, of a heart attack. He was survived by two brothers, both of his parents, and a grandparent.
Interview: Beau Mirchoff Is Feeling Awkward.
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| Beau Mirchoff/Ron Tom/ABC |
Celebrity Extra: As someone in my 30s, I wasn’t expecting to like “Awkward” as much as I do, but I have to tell you, I absolutely love it! It’s smart, funny, well written and well acted.
Beau Mirchoff: I think so too. I think there are diverse characters and that people of all ages can relate to the situation and to the characters. It’s a show about teenagers, but I think there is a little bit of everything for everyone. My mom is in her 50s, and I guarantee you this will be her new favorite show. I’m glad to be on something that people are really talking about.
CE: Tell me about your character, Matty, and the things about him that appealed to you as an actor.
BM: The characteristics that appeal to me are he’s lovable and he’s loving. Matty’s thing is, he wants to be perfect; he wants his family to be perfect, and he doesn’t want anything to look negatively on his family. He constantly wants to be liked and to please people. And does he do that in the wrong way sometimes? Yes, of course. I think most teenagers don’t have a clue how to handle most situations. They might think they do, but they don’t.
CE: While this is told from a girl’s point of view, the writers do a great job of showing how being a teen, whether girl or boy, is just plain difficult.
BM: I think they are often very similar, emotionally. Guys put on the façade that everything is cool, but deep down I think they have some of the similar problems with image, popularity and fitting in — finding a girl and being loved and all those types of problems.
CE: This seems like it would be a fun set to work on.
BM: It was awesome; it was fun; it was happy! Everyone was great and supportive. We always would run lines and talk about our scenes and our characters, trying to find new things in scenes that we hadn’t found before. We’d come up with new, creative ideas and run them by Lauren (Iungerich, executive producer/creator/writer). Every once in a while, I’d come up with a really good idea and it would work. Life on the set was creative and fun.
CE: Another fun and creative set you worked on was with the folks at “Desperate Housewives.” What was that experience like?
BM: Educational. I learned so much from all the people on that set with all those actors and actresses. They are pros and they know what they’re doing. I was very grateful to get that job. Not just for the recognition and whatnot, but to grow as an actor. You can only learn so much in acting class, but when you’re on set, it’s a whole different thing. I learned a lot from Jeffrey Nordling, who played my father, and Drea de Matteo, who was my mother. A majority of my scenes were with them. You learn a lot from just watching them work, and you see how they do it. That was what was most beneficial from that.
CE: I am a big “Sopranos” fan, and was so happy to see Drea on the show. How cool was it that she played your mom?
BM: Yeah, I had a big crush on Drea. I hope it didn’t read on camera. That would have been creepy, since she was my mom, but it probably came out. It’s inevitable. She’s quite attractive and so great at what she does.
Q and A: Week of Aug. 22
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| Max Irons |
A: Max Irons, 25, is the son of Academy Award-winning English actor Jeremy Irons. Next up, Max is set to star as the title character in the feature film ‘Vivaldi,’ along with Alfred Molina, Elle Fanning and Tom Wilkinson. It is due for release in 2013.
Q: I have been hearing rumors that ‘Desperate Housewives’ has been canceled. Is that true? I hope not, as it’s my favorite show! — Emmy R., via e-mail
A: ‘Desperate Housewives’ has not been canceled; however, creator Marc Cherry recently announced that this upcoming eighth season will be the show’s last. While the news was bittersweet for everyone involved, cast and crew agree that the time has come to wrap things up on Wisteria Lane. Marc teased at ABC’s Television Critics Association party last month that this final season will return to the basics and revisit the mystery that launched the show: Mary Alice’s death. Teri Hatcher and company will return on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m. EDT.
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| Leeza Gibbons |
A: Leeza, 54, has never been one to rest on her laurels. In fact, she prides herself on remaining busy, be it with her PBS weekly show ‘My Generation,’ her work with the Home Shopping Network and Guthy-Renker on her Sheer Cover beauty-product empire, or her tireless work as an advocate for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Regarding her signing on with ‘America Now,’ which premieres Monday, Sept. 12 (check your local listings for time), Leeza told me: ‘I’m so excited, because this is a real change of pace for me going back to daily television. I’m crazy about Bill Rancic (her co-host), and we’re very excited about working together on this.
“I’ve already hit the ground running and started looking at some segments that I want to make my own, including interviewing leaders and newsmakers and celebrities about success and living without limits. There’s also consumer news, lifestyle and fitness, and things for children — we’re going to tackle all of it."
Check back later this week for my entire interview with Leeza where we talk about her new show, her recent marriage, her Sheer Cover line, and Leeza's Place, her nonprofit organization for caregivers of people with memory disorders.
Q: With all the talk of Amy Winehouse’s recent death, the death of football great Bubba Smith was overlooked. Can you give me any information on him? – Harold T. in Florida
A: Charles Aaron ‘Bubba’ Smith passed away on Aug. 3 of apparent natural causes (as of this writing, the final coroner’s report had not been released). The former defensive end for the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers — who some consider even more famous for his work as Moses Hightower in the ‘Police Academy’ films — was 66 at the time of his passing.
Q and A: Week of Aug. 15
A: You’re in luck! On Aug. 23, Acorn Media will be releasing the first series of the police-procedural television drama (go to acornonline.com for more details). This series — which aired in the 1990s and 2000s on Britain’s ITV network, for a total of 14 episodes — garnered rave reviews and numerous accolades. Aside from starring the fabulous Helen Mirren, it also had big-name guest stars like Ralph Fiennes, Tom Wilkinson and David Thewlis. Director Tom Hooper, who won the Academy Award last year for “The King’s Speech,” also directed series six. Those are some mighty big shoes to fill for NBC — which will air the U.S. version beginning Sept. 22 — but I have my fingers crossed for Maria Bello and crew to make “Prime Suspect” their own.
Q: I am really digging the new TNT show, “Franklin and Bash.” Do you know if it’ll be back for a second season? — Hank F., Baltimore
A: Well, Hank, if you’ve got a hankering for a second season of “Franklin and Bash,” then I’ve got good news for you: TNT has picked up the hit legal drama for another season. Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer will return as the titular characters to cause more waves at their button-down agency. No word yet on many episodes will be in the new season or when it will premiere, but we’ll assume it’s summer 2012. The show also stars Malcolm McDowell, Dana Davis, Kumail Nanjiani, Reed Diamond and Garcelle Beauvais.
Q: I am a huge fan of “White Collar” and have season one on DVD. When will seasons two and three be out? — Rita S., Port Charlotte, Fla.
A: The USA network show about a con man working with an FBI agent to catch criminals (as part of his work-release program from prison) recently returned for its third season in June, so you’ll have to wait a bit for those DVDs. However, you can now find season two at your favorite local and online retailers. The four-disc set includes all 16 episodes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, featurettes and commentaries for episodes nine, 12 and 16.
Q: I am so glad that “The Glades” has returned, and I was wondering what else has series star Matt Passmore been in? He is my favorite actor on television right now. — L.S., Granbury, Texas
A: Prior to landing the lead role of Jim Longworth on A&E’s “The Glades,” Matt Passmore — who was born in Brisbane, Australia, on Christmas Eve 1972 — worked on several TV shows and movies. You might have seen him in: “McLeod’s Daughter,” “Son of the Mask,” “Last Man Standing” or “The Cut.”
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